In light of soaring egg prices, which have reached nearly $6 per dozen, the U.S. confronts a critical decision: to vaccinate poultry or continue mass slaughters to curb bird flu. The ongoing hesitation stems from concerns about jeopardizing the nation’s lucrative chicken exports, valued in the billions annually.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has outlined plans to allocate $100 million to study bird flu vaccines. This initiative, part of a broader $1 billion protection strategy, seeks to engage meat chicken, egg, and turkey producers in efforts to prevent the virus from devastating farms. President Donald Trump supports this effort, believing it could help reduce egg prices.
Despite these plans, meat chicken producers remain skeptical, fearing potential harm to meat exports. Last year alone, chicken meat exports amounted to nearly $4.7 billion. Conversely, egg and turkey producers, primarily selling within the U.S., have witnessed significant impacts from the virus.
Without adopting a vaccination strategy, the government continues to cull infected flocks to prevent the disease’s spread. To date, this approach has led to the slaughter of over 166 million birds since 2022, predominantly egg-laying chickens. Consequently, the price of eggs has surged to $5.90 per dozen on average, with some areas experiencing even higher costs.
Renowned poultry veterinarian Simon Shane expressed concerns about the government’s reluctance to use vaccines, which he attributes to the meat industry’s opposition. According to Shane, the escalation of egg prices, reaching $8 to $9 in certain regions, has placed the administration in an embarrassing position.
Former USDA chief veterinary officer John Clifford highlighted the need for a strategy to monitor vaccinated flocks for symptomless outbreaks, a prerequisite for international trade negotiations. The fear remains that vaccination could allow the virus to persist undetected, potentially mutating into a more severe human threat. Properly cooking chicken to 165 degrees Fahrenheit eliminates bird flu risks, but both consumers and producers prefer to avoid the virus altogether.
Broiler chickens, typically slaughtered at six to eight weeks old, face less risk of infection due to their shorter lifespan compared to two-year-old egg-laying hens. This, coupled with geographic factors—the Southeast, where most broilers are raised, has experienced fewer outbreaks compared to the Midwest and West—further complicates vaccination discussions.
Furthermore, logistical challenges exist in administering the vaccine. Egg farmers advocate for delivery through feed or water, deeming individual injections impractical for large flocks.
Globally, nations like China and Mexico have implemented poultry vaccinations. Mexico’s strategy includes not culling flocks upon infection detection, which has kept the virus in circulation, while China continues to cull infected birds despite vaccinations, effectively controlling outbreaks.
Despite these international examples, significant relief for U.S. egg prices remains unlikely in the short term. It takes approximately 20 weeks to raise new egg-laying hens, suggesting a delay in alleviating the supply shortage. The USDA forecasts egg prices in 2025 will be 41% higher than the 2024 average, at $4.47 per dozen, though this is below current levels.
Vaccinating poultry presents a potential means to address soaring egg prices linked to bird flu. However, trade implications and logistical hurdles persist, delaying decisive action. As the USDA continues to evaluate this strategy, immediate relief from high egg prices seems distant.
